Northeast Ride #2 – Day Two

Day two – the first wake up in place not my own. After posting last night I sat by the fire and drifted away in thought. When the fire had died down enough I head to bed. I slept later than I wanted to but still got up and moving at a decent time. I had camp all packed up and was back on the road before 9:00am.

It was a gorgeous start to the day. the sun was shining and the air was cool and crisp, almost chilly. It was a short ride to the Missouri border, through Branson and into the tree covered hills and valleys of the Missouri Ozarks. For a brief moment I even got to ride through the clouds. There’s something about riding in the clouds, it’s a feeling that’s hard to describe.

We made it to Springfield and I saw a sign for Waffle House. Breakfast sounds good and we’ve gone a good fifty miles already. A wise man once told me (probably more than once), “ride at least 40 miles before you stop for breakfast.” Waffle House isn’t really something I can get at home and it’s a chain but there’s memories involved so it’s a go to breakfast place if I find one.

I don’t remember for sure which trip it was, Florida Keys or Louisiana. Dad and I had breakfast at Waffle House 3 or 4 times. We started with the first, just a quick and decent breakfast. The next morning, while walking out of our hotel, we spot another one right next. We hadn’t noticed it pulling in the night before and took it as a sign. The next day, another Waffle House, just down the street from camp. A silly memory perhaps, but it’s one of many I cling to. Tami, my waitress, is a fellow biker who moved up here from Dallas. We don’t talk too much but I get a little from her.

With a full belly and a full tank we head onward. Northeast towards St. Louis. The sunny skies eventually become overcast with some clouds looking a bit full. We stave off any rain until we get about 50 miles outside of St. Louis. It’s a small, short burst of rain and I barely get wet, lucky for now.

My plan was to make it into town and find a good place for lunch, BBQ maybe. Then find a good spot to get a photo of the arch. Neither happened. We made our way into St. Louis and began winding our way through the city. Traffic was surprisingly light. Not long after entering town the rain hit. Heavy but short, a few miles of down pour and trying to find my lane markers, hard to do without any wipers. But we weren’t done. This would happen again, multiple times before getting out of town. I didn’t get my BBQ lunch. I saw the arch but it was during a round of downpour, no picture happening.

Finally get out of the city and past the rain. Not sure when it happened but at some point we crossed into Illinois. There’s a rest area ahead so I change lanes and exit. I need a break and a semi cold, shaken beer. I’m also hungry, it’s after 2:00 at this point. I spend some time a picnic table and search for some local eateries. There’s a little cafe just off the highway at the next exit but something else catches my eye, a little bar and grill called E.L. Flanagan’s. I’ve got to eat at Flanagan’s. I brother of mine calls his back yard bar “The Flanagan” so it’s happening. Food is decent but nothing to rave about.

Onward we go, just over 100 miles to go now. Cloud cover is still pretty heavy but as we make our way north the sun begins to break through. It’s clear sailing all the way into the tiny town of Mattoon. I’ve got cousins here that I only get to see about once a year, enough for some, not for us.

We spend the evening chatting and catching up. I’m fed a wonderful lasagna meal and given an entire basement to myself. It’s not my style of room but beggars choosers. I was told this is boho western. Still not entirely clear what that means but it looks good, and it’s rather large.

From here I need to head towards New Hampshire. That’s not happening in one day so I’m thinking a stop in Cleveland tomorrow night, maybe a bit further. We’ll see how the day goes. I’d like to get at least 400 miles in. Tonight I’m gonna crash. I’m exhausted and this room is chilly so I know I’ll sleep well. Good night to you all.